Particle thrusters, sometimes called plasma thrusters, are an electric form of propulsion. An accelerated particle drive takes a small mass and accelerates it to an extreme velocity very near the speed of light. The earliest versions were simple ionic propulsion drives that would utilize a magnetic field to accelerate an ionized particle. These drives have since grown far more powerful, allowing only a very tiny reaction mass to be carried on the vessel or acquired in-transit. Some of the most efficient of these drives can push off of stray cosmic particles even in interstellar space, requiring no reaction mass at all to be carried. Smaller particle thrusters are useful for applications on vehicles or even on armors for quick propulsion without the need to carry fuel. Generally, however, they are demanding of more electric energy than propulsion done via combustible chemicals.
Particle thrusters can take on a variety of appearances such as color, though are mostly what one would expect; a stream or jet of colored, ionized particles.